Historical costumes

As you might know – or have guessed if you’ve read any of my FB posts or guest blogs – I love historical costuming.

So this is a short post with a few pictures of my projects – completed and future – and my ideas around them.

On Friday afternoon, the house experienced the chaos before the calm as we prepared for our daughter’s 18th birthday party, which was Titanic-themed.

So, of course, she needed a dress and I made her this 1912 recreation. She also needed a corset, so I drafted this from an earlier era – the 1880s, actually, but that’s what she thought she’d get most use out of as she wanted something to draw in her waist rather than the more elongated corset of the 1912 era.

Here’s the dress that was the initial inspiration (with its tiny waist), but of course finding the right quality fabric when one doesn’t live in the city and has time constraints presents certain challenges. And I really like to feel the texture of the fabric before I buy.

Although clothing looked far less structured, there is still boning in the bodice and it does require a corset. However, the gauzy fabric gives a more floaty impression while the decoration of beads and metallic trimmings weighted the fabric so it didn’t fly away.

Next post I’ll show you the two 1880s original dress patterns I’ve bought as well as the original fashion plates from one of my favourite eras.

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